Frederic Guilbert has broken his silence and given a blunt verdict on his future at Aston Villa. The defender is understood to be training with Villa’s u21 side, playing three games in Premier League 2 this term, and his status at Villa Park has often been a topic of discussion among supporters. In an in-depth interview with French outlet Alsa Sports , Guilbert admitted that he is actively searching for a new club.
Frederic Guilbert said: “Now I’m looking to the future. I’ve never had a discussion with Unai Emery. I can’t stay in this situation forever. We are studying the different possibilities with my entourage, whether it is a loan with an option to buy or a transfer. The only certainty is that I need to get playing time at a club to get back on track. That’s the most important thing for me. It’s no secret (that he’s on the transfer market). For the moment, there is nothing, but I am open to offers. I’m on the transfer market, what matters to me is to play and to find pleasure quickly.”
The 27-year-old was linked with several clubs throughout the summer and sought to provide clarity on why he did not return to Strasbourg for a third time, after clocking up 49 appearances during his loan spells. The Villa man insisted he does not hold a grudge against Strasbourg for not signing him again and revealed that he was contacted by a further two clubs during the transfer window.
Frederic Guilbert said: “From my side, there is no problem. I was a little bitter at the start because it was important to me to come back to this club and this magnificent region, when asked about Strasbourg’s decision. Otherwise, I had an opportunity with Angers at the end of the transfer window. I received a proposal, we made a counter-proposal, and, finally, the leaders of (Angers) never came back and recruited another player. I also had Olympiacos who contacted me for a loan, but I did not follow up.”
